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Coronavirus cancellations hit L.A. Phil, L.A. Opera and Center Theatre Group

Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
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Three titans of L.A. performing arts — the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera and Center Theatre Group — confirmed Thursday morning that they are canceling performances in response to the coronavirus.

The L.A. Phil canceled performances and events through March 31, including programming for its Power to the People! festival and its Piatigorsky International Cello Festival concerts.

Los Angeles Opera canceled the Saturday performance of “Roberto Devereux.”

Coachella, SXSW, “Hamilton,” the next “Fast and Furious” movie and even Disneyland have been affected by the coronavirus. But wait — there’s more.

March 18, 2020

Center Theatre Group is shutting down all three of its venues and canceling all performances of “The Book of Mormon,” originally set to run through March 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A.; “The Antipodes,” which had been scheduled for March 25 to April 25 at the Mark Taper Forum in L.A.; and “Block Party” performances March 18 to April 19 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

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Los Angeles Master Chorale, which along with the L.A. Phil is a resident company of Walt Disney Concert Hall, canceled “The Fauré Requiem” on March 28 and a gala on April 18. The popular Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center canceled its engagement of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — always a huge draw — scheduled to start Wednesday.

The Hollywood Pantages Theatre postponed the return of “Hamilton,” which was to start previews Thursday. The musical will remain dark until at least March 31. Opening night and all March performances of “The Spongebob Musical” at the Dolby Theatre, part of the same Broadway in Hollywood lineup, were canceled too.

All public activity at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts at Cal State Northridge, including performances by Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, are being suspended through April 17. Pasadena Symphony and Pops rescheduled its March 21 performance of “Mozart & McGegan,” now on the calendar for May 23.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa canceled performances through the end of March, while Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University in Orange canceled all performances through early May, including an evening with actor John Leguizamo and a performance by the L.A. Master Chorale. The Broad Stage in Santa Monica is suspending all performances through April 9.

A Noise Within, the popular theater company in Pasadena, has canceled all remaining performances of “The Winter’s Tale” and “Alice in Wonderland,” as well as all public events through the end of April. East West Players, the Asian American theater company in Little Tokyo, said it was postponing its much-anticipated run of Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” which was scheduled to open Thursday. South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa late Thursday canceled all remaining performances of “Outside Mullingar,” which started previews Sunday.

Long Beach Opera has postponed its production of “The Lighthouse,” to have been staged at the new Pacific Visions theater at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The company said it hopes to announce a new opening date soon.

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REDCAT, which presents experimental performance in the Disney Hall complex, will present nothing through April 12. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra postponed Thursday and Friday concerts and canceled performances for March 28 and 29.

To the south, the Old Globe Theater in San Diego will suspend public performances through the end of March; two productions now in rehearsal, “Little Women” and “Faceless,” will be postponed until further notice. La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla Music Society San Diego Opera and San Diego Symphony canceled all performances through the end of the month.

For a comprehensive report of arts, entertainment and venue closures, please read The Times’ list.

Whether in L.A. or on Broadway, theater leaders must actually lead. Close for the sake of public health. Don’t just offer discounts and hand sanitizer.

March 11, 2020

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